Toy ground effect vehicle with adjustable stabilizing weight

ABSTRACT

A toy air cushion vehicle comprising a hull the lower portion of which carries a skirt bounding the air cushion space, an electrically driven lift fan having a substantially vertical axis, at least one propulsion unit mounted on the hull and comprising an electrically driven propeller, and at least one movable weight for balancing the vehicle on its air cushion both in the transverse and longitudinal directions. The skirt has parts subdividing the cushion space. The hull has a compartment with a door automatically closed by the lift fan through a pneumatic device. The propeller may be a flexible member maintaining its shape partly by centrifugal force and may have a torque limiter including a magnetic or friction coupling.

United States Patent TOY GROUND EFFECT VEHICLE WITH ADJUSTABLESTABILIZING WEIGHT 13 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl

Int. Cl A6311 17/00, A63h 29/16, A63h 33/26 Field 01' Search 46/1 J, 42,

79,243 M; l80/ll7,ll8, 127

OTHER REFERENCES Model Air Car of the Future" by R. L. Clough, POPU- LARMECHANICS, Jan. 1962, pages 160 163. A copy of these pages has beenplaced in cl 46-], 1.

Primary ExaminerF. Barry Shay Attorney-Breitenfeld and Levine ABSTRACT:A toy air cushion vehicle comprising a hull the lower portion of whichcarries a skirt bounding the air cushion space, an electrically drivenlift fan having a substantially vertical axis, at least one propulsionunit mounted on the hull and comprising an electrically drivenpropeller, and at least one movable weight for balancing the vehicle onits air cushion both in the transverse'and longitudinal directions. Theskirt has parts subdividing the cushion space. The hull has acompartment with a door automatically closed by the lift fan through apneumatic device. The propeller may be a flexible member maintaining itsshape partly by centrifugal force and may have a torque limiterincluding a magnetic or friction coupling.

PATENTEU JUN29 IHYI SHEET 1 OF 3 Mwm 70x4 G QB EWQ lwm PA- LAM r g M mRm H Home vs PATENTEUJUNZSISYI 3,589,058

SHEET 2 OF 3 Fig.3

/A/VENTDRJ IVA/v PA LA 607' II Ill/Ii I A Mme/wok NAN HA imam firm/mewPATENTEB JUN29 |97| TOY GROUND EFFECT VEHICLE WITH ADJUSTABLESTABILIZING WEIGHT operates on air cushion and which is a replica of thereal air cushion vehicle. A toy which reproduces the external appearanceof a real vehicle on a reduced scale exercises great fascination forchildren, and there is particular interest in a toy which can moveequally well over a floor indoors or in a yard or playground outdoors,the toy being self-propelled and requiring no track or speciallyprepared surface for its movement.

A toy of this kind cannot just be a reduced model of the actual vehicle,even in a simplified form, and it is a further object of this inventionto provide a number of original technical solutions to the problems towhich the construction of such a toy gives rise.

According to the present invention a toy air cushion vehicle comprises ahull the lower portion ofwhich carries skirt means bounding the aircushion space, an electrically driven lift fan having a substantiallyvertical axis, at least one propulsion unit mounted on the hull andcomprising an electrically driven propeller, and at least one movableweight for balancing the vehicle on its air cushion both in thetransverse and longitudinal directions.

Preferably the electric motors for the fan and for the propulsion unitor units are supplied from a distance from a suitable source, such as abattery, through an agency of a flexible multiconductor supply cable. Insuch cases the vehicle may be controlled by varying the current suppliedto the various motors. In a variant, the batteries may be mounted in thehull. In some expensive toys a radio-control unit may be used.

The movable weight may be mounted slidably on a horizontal rod adaptedto pivot about a vertical axis. Thus, by swinging the horizontal rod toone side or the other, the center of gravity of the vehicle can beshifted laterally. By adjusting the position of the weight along the rodthe center of gravity can also be adjusted in the direction of thelength of the rod, i.e. longitudinally when the rod is substantiallyparallel with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Adjustment of theposition of the center of gravity enables the toy vehicle to be properlybalanced on its air cushion when stationary. By introducing unbalancewhen the vehicle is in motion, the direction of motion can be furthercontrolled. Preferably, therefore, the position of the weight isadjustable by external means, e.g. by a remote control mechanism.

The skirt means may comprise a main skirt disposed around the peripheryof the lower portion of the hull bounding the air cushion space andsecondary skirts which divide the air cushion space into compartmentsbetween the lift fan outlet and the main skirt. These secondary skirtsmay also afford mechanical support for the main skirt.

Wheels may be provided beneath the hull on which the toy can be rolledover the ground when the lift fan is inoperative, without damaging theskirt or skirts. When the fan is operative the air cushion raises thevehicle sufficiently to lift wheels well clear of the ground.

There may be at least one bellows connected to the lift fan outlet sothat the bellows expands or contracts as the lift fan is, or is not, inoperation, which bellows actuates a movable component of the toy, forexample, a door which is opened and closed by the bellows.

For safety reasons the propeller or propellers are preferably made froma flexible material and maintain their shape partly by centrifugal forcewhen the propulsion units are operating. For the same reasons, eachpropeller may be driven by its electric motor through a torque limiter.Thus, if the propeller meets an obstruction it will stop even though itsdriving motor continues to turn.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a specificembodiment, with a modification, will now be described by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a longitudinal section ofa toy air cushion vehicle embodyingthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the toy showing the skirt system;

FIG. 3 is a cross section on the line Ill-III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross section on the line lV-IV in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the movable weight system;

FIG. 6 is a variant of FIG. 5 wherein the weight is connected to adirectional control system;

FIG. 7 is an axial section showing the assembly of a propeller on apropulsion unit using a magnetic torque limiter;

FIG. 8 shows two half-sections similar to FIG. 7 for two embodiments inwhich the propeller twist is obtained by clamping a flat propellershape;

FIG. 9 is a section on the line IX-IX in FIG. 8; I

FIG. 10 is a view in the direction of the arrow X in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 1] is a section on the line XIXI in FIG. 10.

The toy air cushion vehicle or hovercraft shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4is externally a reduced-scale copy of an actual hovercraft. The toy ismanufactured from a lightweight material, e.g. polystyrene orpolyethylene. It comprises a hollow hull l at the bottom of which askirt system 20 is disposed. Two compartments 2 and 3 are provided atthe two ends of the hull to receive toy automobiles, the compartmentsbeing closed at both ends by doors 2a, 3a, pivotable about bottomhorizontal axes 2b, 3b, so that they can serve as access. ramps. Thehull 1 also has a compartment 5 to receive a movable weight, as will bedescribed hereinafter. The central part of the hull has a vertical duct6 for the blowing of lift air, the duct containing a four-blade lift fan7 driven by an electric motor 8. The superstructure at the top of thehull comprises a cover 9 simulating a cabin with lateral apertures 9arepresenting winclaws and a pilot's station 10. On each side of thecabin 9, level with the central duct 6, two left and right propulsionunits 11 are mounted on supports lla, each propulsion unit comprising areversible electric motor 12 driving a propeller 13. Two rudders I4 aredisposed at the rear of the superstructure.

As well as being a replica of the external features of the actualhovercraft, the toy behaves in a similar way. When the lift fan 7 isstarted, it draws in air through the apertures in the superstructure(and more particularly the windows 9a and blows it down through the duct6 so that the entire toy lifts on the pressure air cushion thus formedbeneath the hull and bounded by the skirts 20. In this position,rotation of the propellers 13 will cause the toy to move. If the twomotors l2 rotate at the same speed, the toy will move in a straightline. It will turn on itself if the speeds of rotation differ. Becausethe motors 12 are reversible, a very rapid turning movement can beobtained by rotating the two propellers 13 in opposite directions to oneanother.

The various motors receive their supply from electric batteries. Theseare preferably part of a unit which is separate from the toy itself,connection to the motors being via a flexible multiconductor cable. Insuch cases the toy can be very easily controlled from a control unitincorporating a switch for the supply circuit to the lift motor 8 andtwo rheostats for controlling the two reversible propeller motors 12.

In a variant, the batteries may be incorporated in the toy and thecontrol may be a radio-control, a radio-control receiver unit beingincorporated in the toy and the transmitter unit being available for theuser.

As will be more apparent from FIG. 2, the skirt system 20 comprises anouter peripheral or main :skirt 21 around the bottom part of the hull 1.Between the outlet of the central duct 6 and the main skirt 21 aredisposed two longitudinal skirts 22 and 23 formed with communicatingapertures 22a, 23a, and two front" and rear" transverse skirts 24 and25, the central part of each skirt 22 and 23 also being connected to thesides of the main skirt 2! by skirt partition-s 26 and 27. The innerskirts 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 preferably have a height less than thatof the main skirt 21, as will be apparent from FIGS. 3 and 4. Thevarious skirts are preferably made from a flexible and noncreasingimpermeable fabric. The arrangement of the skirt system to formcompartments has two advantages. First, the inner skirts help to supportthe main skirt so that the skirt system has satisfactory mechanicalcharacteristics having regard to the weight of the toy and theflexibility of the skirt material. Second, the compartmentalization ofthe lift air cushion improves the stability of the toy. The air leavingthe duct 6 passes from a central cushion compartment to lateral cushioncompartments via communicating apertures, such as 22a, 23a, and freepassages formed beneath the bottom edge of the inner skirts which areshorter than the main skirt.

To enable the toy to be rolled over the ground without damage to theskirts when the lift fan is not in operation, the hull is provided withwheels, namely a front pivoting wheel 30 and two rear nonpivoting wheels31.

An auxiliary duct 40 extends through the hull slightly to the rear ofthe central duct 6 and in it is mounted a bellows 41 closed by a plate42 mounted to pivot about an axis 42a (FIG. 1). The end of the plate 42which is remote from the pivot 42a is connected by two wires 43 to therear door 3a which is mounted to pivot about an axis 3b. When the liftfan 7 is in operation, the air emerging from the duct 6 inflates thebellows so that the plate 42 pivoting about the pivot 42a passes from abottom position (which it occupies when the fan is not operating) into atop position. During this movement, as a result of the connection by thewires 43, the door 3a pivots about the pivot 3b between an open positionand a closed position. In other words, it is the operation of the liftfan which causes the door to close. Small magnets may be used in knownmanner to lock the doors. Of course a bellows such as 41 could be usedto control the movement of any other movable component.

As already mentioned, the hull compartment contains a movable weight, aswill be seen more clearly in FIG. 5. It has been found from a number oftests that it is essential to provide the toy with a movable weightwhich can be displaced both laterally and longitudinally in order toprovide accurate balance when the fan lifts the toy on its skirt withoutany movement. To this end (FIG. 5), a weight 50 is mounted slidably on ahorizontal rod 51 which is mounted to pivot about a vertical axis bymeans of a vertical rod 52 rigidly connected to the rod 51 and mountedin a bearing 53 secured to the hull on the rear wall of the compartment5. The vertical rod 52 terminates in a milled head 520 which is readilyaccessible from outside and can be turned by the edge of a coin. Theweight 50 may be secured in position on the horizontal rod 51 by alocking screw 50a. The end 51a of the rod 51 cooperates with a toothedcircular segment 53 concentric with the vertical axis of the rod 52.With this arrangement, the position of the weight 50 on the rod 51 canbe adjusted and the orientation of the rod 51 can be changed by turningthe vertical rod 52, the orientation being maintained by cooperation ofthe end 51a with the notches between the teeth of the segment 53.

In the variant shown in FIG. 6, the provision of a movable weight systemis used to control yawing. To this end, the vertical rod 52 is connectedto a reduction gear 60 driven by reve rsible electric motor 61. Theangular travel of the horizontal rod 51 connected to the vertical rod 52is advantageously limited by adjustable stops (not shown) which can befitted by screws to apertures 62a formed on a support 62 which itselfincorporates fixed stops 62b. The motor is controlled from the controlstation by the'lever 65 of a reversing switch connected to the motor 61by leads 66, for reversing the direction of operation. The unbalancevoluntarily produced by movement of the weight causes the toy to moveover a circular or other nonrectilinear path. By moving the weightalternately to the left and to the right of the toy by means of theswitch lever 65, a yawing motion is obtained.

Additionally, the rod 52 may be associated with a rocking lever 70 whichcan be connected by two wires 71 to two external aerodynamic rudders.

The propeller assemblies should be designed to minimize the risk ofaccident to children. To this end it is advantageous to limit the speedof rotation of the propellers, to provide propeller blades made from aflexible material, such blades assuming their operative shape partly asa result of centrifugal force, and to connect the propellers to theshaft of the motors of assembly, units through torque limiting devices.

FIG. 7 shows a magnetic torque limiting device. The propeller is mountedon the shaft 12a of its motor 12 as follows: a bush of plastic material81 is force-fitted on the shaft 12a, a metal washer 81a being rigidlysecured to the bush. A magnetized washer 82 is secured to the hub of thepropeller. On assembly, the propeller is engaged over the bush 81, themagnetized washer 82 being applied against the metal washer 8111. Athrust washer 83 and a lock washer 84 cooperating with a notch in thebush 81 complete the assembly. The propeller is not clamped tightly onthe shaft, and the main connection between the shaft and the propellerbeing a magnetic connection which limits the torque transmission. As aresult the propeller can be stopped manually without harm.

FIGS. 8 (top half-section), 9, l0 and 11 illustrate a friction torquelimiting system.

The propeller is made from a flat blank of flexible plastic material andthe twist of the blade of this propeller results from the clamping ofthe blank between inclined surfaces 92a and 93a of plates 92 and 93. Theassembly is held together by a locking member 91 introduced into acutout 910 in the plates 92 and 93. The locking member 91 is given aquarter of a turn to bring it into its locking position in which it fitsinto notches 91a and 91b formed in the plates 92 and 93. The assemblyformed by the parts 90, 91, 92 and 93 is fitted over a bush l2'a whichis force-fitted onto the shaft 12. The assembly 90, 91, 92, 93 rotatesfreely on the bush 12a. A friction washer of elastic foam 95 is put intoplace and is held in position by a plate 94 which is secured to the bush12a by a pin 96 which fits into a notch 94a in the plate 94.

A variant comprises replacing the resilient washer 95 by a magneticwasher 95a, as shown in the bottom half-section in FIG. 8.

A propeller cowling 97 is fixed over the plate 92 to protect thecomplete assembly and also improve appearance.

What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. A toy air cushion vehicle comprising a hull, skirt means carried bysaid hull for bounding and defining an air cushion space below saidhull, a lift fan having a substantially vertical axis, duct meansaffording communication between said lift fan and said air cushionspace, electrical driving means for said lift fan, at least onepropulsion unit mounted on said hull, said propulsion unit comprising apropeller and electrical driving means for said propeller, meanscomprising at least one movable weight for balancing said vehicle on anair cushion generated in said air cushion space by said lift fan, meansmounting said weight on said vehicle for movement both in the transverseand longitudinal directions of the said vehicle to a selected fixedposition in said vehicle to a selected fixed position in said vehicle.

2. A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said mountingmeans includes a horizontal rod, means supporting said rod for pivotingabout a vertical axis, and said movable weight being slidably mounted onsaid rod.

3. A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 including controlmeans for moving said movable weight to control the direction of motionof said vehicle.

4. A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 in which said skirtmeans comprises a main skirt bounding the periphery of said air cushionspace and secondary skirts which divide said air cushion space intocompartments disposed between said duct means and said main skirt.

5. A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 4 in which saidsecondary skirts are connected to said main skirt to afford mechanicalsupport for said main skirt.

6. A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 including wheelsmounted beneath said hull and adapted to support said vehicle when saidlift fan is inoperative.

7. A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 including at least onebellows, means connecting said bellows to said duct means whereby saidbellows is extended when said fan is operative, said bellows beingnormally contracted when said fan is inoperative, said toy alsoincluding a movable com ponent and an operative actuating connectionbetween said bellows and said movable component.

8. A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 in which saidelectrical driving means for said propeller of said propulsion unit is areversible electric motor.

9. A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 in which saidpropeller of said propulsion unit is made from flexible material and isadapted to maintain its shape partly by centrifugal force when saidelectrical driving means of said 6 propulsion unit is operating.

10. A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 in which saidpropulsion unit includes a torque limiter interposed between saidpropeller and said electrical driving means of said propulsion unit.

11. A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 10 in which saidelectrical driving means of said propulsion unit has a drive shaft andsaid propeller has a hub and in which said torque limiter comprisesmagnetically coupled washers one on said drive shaft and the other onsaid propeller hub.

12. A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 in which saidelectrical driving means of said propulsion unit has a drive shaft andin which there is an elastically deformable washer between said driveshaft and said propeller of said propulsion unit.

13. A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 in which said hullhas a superstructure defining apertures constituting air inlets for saidlift fan.

1. A toy air cushion vehicle comprising a hull, skirt means carried bysaid hull for bounding and defining an air cushion space below saidhull, a lift fan having a substantially vertical axis, duct meansaffording communication between said lift fan and said air cushionspace, electrical driving means for said lift fan, at least onepropulsion unit mounted on said hull, said propulsion unit comprising apropeller and electrical driving means for said propeller, meanscomprising at least one movable weight for balancing said vehicle on anair cushion generated in said air cushion space by said lift fan, meansmounting said weight on said vehicle for movement both in the transverseand longitudinal directions of the said vehicle to a selected fixedposition in said vehicle to a selected fixed position in said vehicle.2. A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said mountingmeans includes a horizontal rod, means supporting said rod for pivotingabout a vertical axis, and said movable weight being slidably mounted onsaid rod.
 3. A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 includingcontrol means for moving said movable weight to control the direction ofmotion of said vehicle.
 4. A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim1 in which said skirt means comprises a main skirt bounding theperiphery of said air cushion space and secondary skirts which dividesaid air cushion space into compartments disposed between said ductmeans and said main skirt.
 5. A toy air cushion vehicle according toclaim 4 in which said secondary skirts are connected to said main skirtto afford mechanical support for said main skirt.
 6. A toy air cushionvehicle according to claim 1 including wheels mounted beneath said hulland adapted to support said vehicle when said lift fan is inoperative.7. A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 including at least onebellows, means connecting said bellows to said duct means whereby saidbellows is extended when said fan is operative, said bellows beingnormally contracted when said fan is inoperative, said toy alsoincluding a movable component and an operative actuating connectionbetween said bellows and said movable component.
 8. A toy air cushionvehicle according to claim 1 in which said electrical driving means forsaid propeller of said propulsion unit is a reversible electric motor.9. A toy air cushion vehicle according to claim 1 in which saidpropeller of said propulsion unit is made from flexible material and isadapted to maintain its shape partly by centrifugal force when saidelectrical driving means of said propulsion unit is operating.
 10. A toyair cushion vehicle according to claim 1 in which said propulsion unitincludes a torque limiter interposed between said propeller and saidelectrical driving means of said propulsion unit.
 11. A toy air cushionvehicle according to claim 10 in which said electrical driving means ofsaid propulsion unit has a drive shaft and said propeller has a hub andin which said torquE limiter comprises magnetically coupled washers oneon said drive shaft and the other on said propeller hub.
 12. A toy aircushion vehicle according to claim 1 in which said electrical drivingmeans of said propulsion unit has a drive shaft and in which there is anelastically deformable washer between said drive shaft and saidpropeller of said propulsion unit.
 13. A toy air cushion vehicleaccording to claim 1 in which said hull has a superstructure definingapertures constituting air inlets for said lift fan.